These same animal-based foods are high in saturated and trans fats.  

Saturated fats cause your liver to make more cholesterol than it otherwise would.  For some people, this added production means they go from a normal cholesterol level to one that is unhealthy. 

There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein, also known as ‘HDL’ and low-density lipoprotein, also known as ‘LDL’.  

Lipoproteins are made of fat and protein and serve as vehicles for your cholesterol to travel through the blood. 

HDL clears from the body via the liver. HDL may therefore prevent the buildup of plaque, protect your arteries, and protect you from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It is considered the “good” cholesterol, and higher levels are better. A good goal to aim for is higher than 55 mg/dL for women and 45 mg/dL for men. The higher your HDL cholesterol numbers, the lower your risk is for heart disease, vascular disease, and stroke. 

LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to your arteries, where it may collect in the vessel walls and contribute to plaque formation, known as atherosclerosis. This can lead to decreased blood flow to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease), leg muscles (peripheral artery disease), or abrupt closure of an artery in the heart or brain, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Over a third of the US population has high LDL cholesterol. Diagnosis is made via blood testing, so if you don’t check, you won’t know. 

For LDL, the lower the number the better. A good goal to keep in mind is less than 130 mg/dL if you don’t have atherosclerotic disease or diabetes. It should be no more than 100 mg/dL, or even 70mg/dL, if you have any of those conditions or high total cholesterol. It’s very important to set your own target cholesterol levels with your doctor. Obesity, a large waist circumference, a sedentary lifestyle, or a diet rich in red meat, full-fat dairy, saturated fat, trans fats, and processed foods can lead to high LDL cholesterol. 

Triglycerides are in the cholesterol conversation as well.  They are a type of fat (lipid) in your blood. 

When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides.  The triglycerides are then stored in your fat cells.  Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. 

High triglyceride levels may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls.  This is arteriosclerosis - which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. 

Heart health and gut health are popular topics of interest in today’s health trends. But it’s not very often that we focus on nourishing the hardest working organ in the body, the brain.  

The brain is the seat of our intelligence, director of our motor functions, and the place where our ability to reason, learn, make memories, and process emotions happens. It truly is incredible what the 3 pounds of fat inside our heads can do for us! It stands to reason that we all could put a little more effort into loving our brain.  

From what you put into your body, to how much you exercise, to your social life, stress levels and mental health, a multitude of factors can play into your brain health. The consequences of not taking care of one’s health can hurt the brain and the body in many ways. For example, when you don’t get enough sleep, you may find yourself more irritable and less able to focus on tasks. On the other end of the spectrum, certain choices may increase your risk for stroke or Alzheimer’s disease.  

So, what CAN you do to love your brain? Well, as it turns out, lots! It may not be an obvious priority for many because we can’t visibly see when harm is being done to the brain. People tend to notice their weight gain or changing physique which motivates them to start eating better or exercising, but we don’t see how certain lifestyle choices may be having ill effects on our brain and quality of life.  

The first step to better brain health is recognizing that your mind is an integral part of your day-to-day wellbeing and long-term path to healthy aging. You can make a difference in your brain health and ultimately, use your brain to its full potential. Because, when you can think clearer, you can make better choices in every area of your life. Here are 6 ways to start loving your brain.